A19 Making a paper pot

This is a great way to save money and recycle old newspapers.

Instead of buying plastic pots or trays to sow your seeds into, follow
the instructions below to make your own paper pots. Seedlings will
grow strongly and be perfect for planting outdoors or into larger
containers. The whole pot can be planted as it will decompose and
the roots grow through.

Resources
Small yogurt drink pot
Sheet of newspaper (approximately 39x30cm)
Plastic container, eg recycled ice cream tub or fruit container
Potting compost
Seeds
Activity
1 Obtain seeds of your chosen plant varieties and prepare necessary equipment and materials.
2 Follow instructions on the next page, increasing the amount of materials for the number of pots required.
3 Once the seedlings are large enough to plant outside, plant the whole pot directly into the soil (see A22).

Extended activity
1 Experiment with sowing a range of seedlings and vegetable crops. Be guided by the following.
a Instructions on the seed packet
b Food Growing Instruction Cards

Health & Be careful when handling seed, compost and soil, washing hands afterwards. Ensure appropriate
Safety adult supervision.
See also Health and Safety Guidelines (Section B3.3)
Further A18 Sowing seed
information A22 Transplanting young plants
B5.2 Sowing seed
Food Growing Instruction Cards
Poster - Seeds and young plants

1
 Instructions for making a paper pot

1 Place the sheet of newspaper flat on to a table,

with the longest edge of the paper at the top of
the table.

Lillington 2 DSC 5905

2 Fold the paper in half lengthways with the

folded edge nearest to you.

DSC 5906

3 Turn the paper so that the folded edge is to the

left this will be the top of your finished pot.

DSC 5908

4 Place the yogurt pot on the newspaper with

the opening of the pot to the left, leaving a gap
between the bottom of the pot and right-hand
edge of the newspaper.

Tightly roll away from you. DSC 5914 or 5941

2
5 Place the pot upright with the opening of the
pot placed downwards on to the table.

DSC 5923 or 5933

6 Fold the remaining paper in neatly and firmly to

make the base of the pot.

DSC 5917

7 Turn the pot over and, holding it tightly, push

down firmly on to the table.

DSC 5918 or 5924

8 Clasp carefully and extract the yogurt pot.

Any of the following

DSC 5920, 5921 OR 5944

Please remove branding from pot

9 Your pot is now complete. Make some more,

fill with compost and place the filled pots in
a recycled container to give support. Sow
the seeds (A18) and watch your plants grow.
When plants are larger enough, transplant the
complete pot (A22). Lillington 3 DSC 6015